Pay Drechsel, Ursula J. Blumenthal and Bernard Keraita

In: UA Magazine 8 - Wastewater Reuse in Urban Agriculture

To protect farmers' and consumers' health, the World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines for the safe use of wastewater in agriculture (WHO, 1989); they are currently under revision. The purpose of the 1989 guidelines was to guide design engineers and planners in the choice of wastewater treatment technologies and water management options. The application of the guidelines, however, has been found to be difficult in many field situations. It was suggested that the WHO guidelines need adjustment for better application in wastewater exposed urban and peri-urban agriculture in resource-poor countries. A model/flow diagram of a new process for deciding on locally appropriate health protection measures is suggested here.